Bishop McGuckian: Pope's same-sex blessing ruling not a change in Church teaching

The Bishop of Raphoe, Alan McGuckian SJ, says that a ruling allowing priests to bless unmarried and same-sex couples does not represent a change of position in the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching.

On Monday, the Dicastery or the Doctrine of the Faith - the Vatican’s doctrinal office - published a declaration called Fiducia Supplicans.

The 5,000 word document was approved by Pope Francis and was seen by many as a significant change of position by the Vatican.

“It will be possible to bless same-sex couples but without any type of ritualisation or offering the impression of a marriage,” the report said, but added: “The doctrine regarding marriage does not change, and the blessing does not signify approval of the union”.

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Bishop McGuckian said that the document ‘allows for the possibility of blessing people who are in irregular or same-sex relationships’. “Some people are suggesting that this document heralds a change in the Church's teaching about marriage and sexuality,” he said.

“That is not the case. The document is consistent with Pope Francis' desire that the Church find ways of reaching out with the mercy and love of Jesus to everyone.

“At the same time, it seeks to be consistent with the tradition which the Church believes has come to us from Jesus himself. It specifically says that no liturgical blessing can be offered to people in irregular unions.”

Pope Francis, who celebrated his 87th birthday on Sunday, has attempted to be more inclusive towards the LGBTQ+ community since his election in 2013.

The report said that such blessings ‘should never be imparted in concurrence with the ceremonies of a civil union, and not even in connection with them’.

Bishop McGuckian described Fiducia Supplicans as ‘a reflection on the nature of blessings’.

He said: “On the one hand it is a clear reaffirmation of the Church's teaching, with an encouragement that nothing should be done that would lead to confusion about that.

“ At the same time it seeks to remind people who are living the Christian life in a less than perfect way - that includes all of us - that God's love never leaves us, while it always calls us to conversion.”